Traveling Trunk Program

These roller skates (circa 1950-1960) are part of Family Collection #4 from Raiding the Attic.

Courtesy George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

Our Traveling Trunks can supplement textbooks in new and exciting ways to interest students. While each trunk focuses on using primary sources in the classroom, they may be used outside of the social studies classroom and in cross-curricular instruction. For example, the Saving Our Seas! trunk was developed for science instruction to demonstrate the marine conservation initiatives of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush.

Raiding the Attic: Exploring History with Nana’s Trunk

Recommended GradeLevels: K-3Students explore the treasured collections of 6 different American families. Through interaction with the artifacts and curriculum in Raiding the Attic, students learn the importance of museums and archives, how to differentiate between a primary and secondary source, how to analyze objects for their historic significance, and what collected objects mean to families. The trunk includes a full curriculum with ready-to-use activities and lesson plans.

Recommended GradeLevels: K-12
Built around the concept of comprehensive thematic guides, the Saving Our Seas! trunk provides both primary and secondary resources, scientific tools, and hands-on manipulatives that acquaint students with a variety of marine concepts. This includes the diversity of life in the oceans, the role of coral reefs, the water-cycle, human impact on the ocean ecosystem, and the archival records documenting the work of President and Mrs. Bush to conserve our oceans. The trunk provides tools and activities to ensure students understand the significance of the oceans and help them develop active conservation plans to encourage their role in saving our seas!

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